OUR MISSION
The Syracuse Gay and Lesbian Chorus is a community choral ensemble of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people and their allies, dedicated to providing and performing an eclectic and entertaining offering of quality choral music which reflects the diverse nature of our community and serves to unite us with the wider community around us.
OUR HISTORY
In the spring of 1991, following a performance by the Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus in Syracuse, a sign-up sheet was made available for people interested in forming a similar chorus in Syracuse. Originally the idea was that this was to be a men’s chorus, but thankfully several courageous women added their names to the list. Planning meetings were held and finally a mixed chorus was formed.
In the late summer of 1991 the chorus met for their first rehearsal. Over thirty like-minded people attended the first rehearsal. Preparation for our first concert took several months, culminating with two sold out performances of our holiday concert in December of 1991. The chorus has been performing regularly ever since. Our numbers have grown considerably, as has our musical skill. In addition to our full scale concerts, we have performed and continue to perform several road concerts throughout New York State.
OUR DIRECTOR
Glenn Kime has been Director of Music for May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society in Syracuse since 1992, happily conducting the May Memorial Choir for the past seventeen years. He is also Instructor in Organ and staff accompanist for the Music Department of Colgate University in Hamilton, NY.
For many years he was the accompanist for the Syracuse Oratorio Society, and for the Syracuse Children’s Chorus. With the later group, he toured across the USA, in Europe, Hong Kong, and Mainland China. He was also Organist and Choir Director for Temple Adath Yeshurun in Dewitt for nine years. As a solo organist, he has performed in many venues across the country, and recorded on the Raven label at Old First Church in San Francisco.
The Syracuse Gay and Lesbian Chorus is the first secular chorus he has directed. He is greatly enjoying working with the group, preparing music that one does not have the chance to perform in Sunday worship services!
